The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains

And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. (2 Nephi 12:2)

Before discussing the meaning of this phrase, it is useful to review Isaiah's use of prophetic dualism. Prophetic dualism means that a scripture is fulfilled in more than just one event. Usually events in Isaiah's day are used as a type of things yet to come. However, sometimes the events described are both in the future. One of the best examples of this is Isaiah's statement, 'Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me' (Isaiah 29:13). When we hear this phrase, we think of the words given to Joseph Smith during the First Vision. Certainly, this phrase accurately described Joseph's day. However, the same phrase is used to describe the scribes and Pharisees in the days of the Savior (Matthew 15:8). Both interpretations are correct. The events of Isaiah's prophecy occurred twice, in the days of Jesus Christ and again in the days of Joseph Smith. Such prophetic dualism is commonly encountered when one interprets Isaiah.

The term "mountain of the Lord's house" refers to the temple. But which temple is Isaiah speaking about? Many of the brethren have interpreted this passage as having reference to the building of temples amongst the Rocky Mountains, specifically, the Salt Lake Temple. Certainly, many have come to Salt Lake from all over the world to learn of His ways and walk in His paths. Elder LeGrand Richards, while speaking of this prophecy said, "Can you go anywhere in the world and find a record of the fulfillment of that promise of Isaiah except in the gathering of the Latter-day Saints here to these valleys of the mountains?" (BYU Speeches of the Year, Feb, 10, 1960, p. 9) If this statement is true regarding the Salt Lake Temple, it must also refer to the many other temples now in use.

The gathering of people to the Salt Lake Temple does not completely fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah. Here is where prophetic dualism comes in. The scripture also has reference to the temples which will be built in Zion and in Jerusalem (2 Nephi 12:3). If Isaiah were speaking only of the temple in Salt Lake, he could have used the phrase, "the Lord's house shall be established in the valley amongst the top of the mountains." Isaiah is making reference to the mountain of the Lord's house. That means that these temples will be built on a hill or mountain to represent the spiritual journey toward God. As Hugh Nibley stated, "And the temple in Jerusalem was on the temple mountain, on Mt. Moriah. We find all the sacred places are the mountains, and they are very important here as the place of pilgrimage." (Ancient Documents and the Pearl of Great Price, Lecture 16, p. 3) Franklin D. Richards explains that the prophecy has reference to both Salt Lake and the New Jerusalem or Zion:

Franklin D. Richards

"For many years there has been a 'House of the Lord' in Salt Lake City, in the top of the mountains, and for more than thirty years, the people of many nations have been saying, 'Come...and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.'

"That there will be a place called Zion from which 'The law shall go forth,' distinct from Jerusalem, is evident from Isaiah, 'When the Lord of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem;'

"How is it that Joseph Smith, Jun., first organized the means for the partial fulfilment of this prophecy, and left, at his death, the authority and instructions necessary to complete its fulfilment, by the building of a great city to be called Zion, in the state of Missouri, which in fulfilment of the prophecy, shall become the capital of this western hemisphere, if he did not obtain his knowledge of the whole matter through Divine inspiration?

"The Jaredite prophet, Ether, some 2500 years ago, foretold 'That a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land (America), unto the seed of Joseph;' Ether 13. 4, 6." (Franklin D. Richards and James A. Little, A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p. 106)

Ye are Free to Act for Yourselves

Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. (2 Nephi 10:23)

Christ's infinite atonement frees us from the fall of Adam and allows us to exercise our agency in choosing right and wrong. The term, "free agency" is redundant. It is not found in the scriptures. Rather, the scriptures use the term, "agency of man" (Moses 4:3). 

People only remain free as long as they exercise this agency wisely. Lehi makes it clear that if they choose the plan of Satan, they are choosing captivity and death (2 Nephi 2:27). Thus, the wicked voluntarily give up their freedom so that Satan can drag them down to his miserable level.

Joshua tried to help the children of Israel decide how to use their agency righteously, “choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 

It is only through serving the Lord that we remain free, for we are able to avoid the bondage of sin and the captivity of the devil.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. (2 Nephi 10:24)

The righteous exercise of agency requires that we reconcile ourselves to the will of God. One of the great ironies of the gospel is that true freedom comes only after submitting to the will of God, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:34-36)

Our Dispensation in Prophecy

All those who are familiar with the work of the Lord in this day marvel that he should have revealed so many details concerning it to his prophets of old. The mission of Joseph Smith, for example, was well known among the prophets hundreds of years before he was born. They knew what his name would be (2 Nephi 3:6, 15), and the magnitude of the work he would perform (2 Nephi 3:24). Malachi called him a messenger (Malachi 3:1; Parely P. Pratt, Key to Theology, p.79). Isaiah knew that he would be unlearned after the manner of men (Isaiah 29:12). To Jeremiah he was a latter-day pastor who would feed the Saints with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:14-15), and Moses was told that he would be a mighty prophet like unto him (Moses 1:41.)

Joseph who was sold into Egypt knew that the prophet raised up in the last days would be one of his own descendants and that he and his father would both bear the name of Joseph (2 Nephi 3:6, 15). About 400 A.D. Moroni wrote down a whole chapter of instructions specifically addressed to him (Ether 5). The Prophet Nephi spoke plainly concerning him (2 Nephi 27:9-12), and when the Messiah came to the American continent immediately after his resurrection, he told the Nephites of the great prophet he would raise up in our day (3 Nephi 21:9-11.)

The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was likewise familiar to many early prophets. Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, predicted it (2 Nephi 3:7, 11-12). Ezekiel had a revelation concerning it (Ezekiel 37:15-20). Enoch was told that it would come forth out of the earth and bear testimony to the divinity and resurrection of the Messiah (Moses 7:62). Moroni recorded that no man on earth in our day would be able to translate it except a prophet of the Lord having a “means for the interpretation thereof” (Mormon 9:34.) 

Nephi knew that a major portion of the plates would be sealed (2 Nephi 27:22), and Isaiah commented on this fact saying that a scientist would remark that he couldn’t translate a sealed book (Isaiah 29:11). Then Isaiah said that the unlearned prophet of the Lord would translate it to the confounding of the wise (Isaiah 29:14.) 

Nephi knew that Joseph Smith would not be permitted to show the plates of Mormon to any save a few select witnesses who could testify of their authenticity (2 Nephi 27:12-13). He knew that the people in our day would resent the coming forth of another sacred scripture even though it contained precious truths that had previously been lost. “A Bible! A Bible!” they would cry; “We have got a Bible and there cannot be any more Bible” (2 Nephi 29:3). And this they would cry out, said Nephi, even though they did not believe in the Bible nor understand it. 

The ancient prophets also saw the restoration of the Church of Christ upon the earth and the practical results which would follow. The Messiah declared that the work of the Church in the last days would be of world-wide proportions (Matthew 24:14), but he revealed to Nephi that the actual membership of the Church would be small (1 Nephi 14:12; 2 Nephi 28:14). While John was in vision of the Isle of Patmos, he saw Moroni, the angelic harbinger, declaring the good news of the restored gospel (Revelation 14:6-7; D&C 133:36), and Lehi saw the Lord gathering out the Saints through the work of the Prophet Joseph (2 Nephi 3:24.)

Isaiah said that the Saints would be Israelites and become known and honored as such among the gentiles (Isaiah 61:9; Zephaniah 3:19). Thus Isaiah knew that the choice seed of Ephraim would be raised up (Isaiah 11:13); that today the fifty million Lamanites or Indians who are descendants of Manasseh would be identified with Israel and that through the Book of Mormon their history and former blessings would be revealed as by a voice from the dust (Isaiah 11:11; 1 Nephi 22:1-6, 2 Nephi 27:9). He knew that the great lost tribes of Israel would be brought down again from the north (Isaiah 11:16) and that the scattered Hebrew nation would again become a united people (Isaiah 11:12; 52:9; Joel 3:20).

All this was to come to pass to permit the God of Sabaoth to re-establish his covenant among his chosen people (Jeremiah 31:31; Romans 11:26-27.)

While Jesus was ministering among the Jews, he indicated that John the Baptist would assist in the restoration of the gospel prior to the coming of the Lord in power (Matthew 17:11-13), and Malachi predicted that Elijah would also participate (Malachi 4:5).

Ezekiel saw the Church assembled in the wilderness where the Lord would show forth a great revelation, purge out the rebels, renew the everlasting covenant, and talk with the Saints face to face (Ezekiel 20:34-38). This, said Daniel, will be the final restoration of the Church and Kingdom of God on the earth. It shall never again be destroyed (Daniel 2:44.)

Prophecy and Modern Times by W. Cleon Skousen

DREAM: "THE LORD IS COMING!"

There are certain dreams I keep to myself and there are those I like to share in detail. But there are those that I can't even begin to describe because how powerful it was. All I know is that the dream I had was another testimony of His Coming. I've had countless. But this time, it was different. When you see God (even if it was not in full, but partial), it's much more different because you know it's God the Father. I don't know when the Lord is coming but my interpretation of this dream is that it is nigh at hand and I ask everyone to please make it right. Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord.

The Guardian

See Genesis 24:51-61

Many journeys in the scriptures were made with camels. So it was with Rebekah. When she said yes to marrying Isaac, Abraham’s servant immediately prepared to take her and her maidens on a long journey through a Middle Eastern desert. That was the mission for which he had been sent, to find a bride for Isaac and to bring her back to the groom. Imagine seeing it. A caravan of camels carrying on their backs a bride, her maidens, and all their possessions across the desert landscape. 

Rebekah was being led by a man she had never seen before, a stranger, the servant of Abraham. She was in his care. She was now his responsibility. He was her guardian for the journey. It was his responsibility to bring her safely through the desert and home to the tents of Abraham. Only he knew the way. Rebekah had no idea. 

So what did she have to do?

She just had to trust his intentions, his knowledge, his leading, and his commitment to bring her where she had to go. And she had to let him bring her there.

Now let’s open up the mystery.

Rebekah represents the bride. And Abraham’s servant, the servant of the father, represents the Holy Ghost. And the servant’s mission is to bring the bride to the Bridegroom. Thus it is the Spirit’s mission and responsibility to lead you, to keep you, to protect you, to guard against your going off the path, and to bring you safely home. And since He alone knows the way, what must you do? Trust Him to lead you where you need to go...and let Him lead.

The bride must be guided by the leading of the Spirit every day of her life. Each day she must let Him lead her and go where He leads. She doesn’t need to know every detail of the journey or the path. She just needs to know Him who journeys with her, and to allow herself to be moved by His moving. And so as she stays close to Him and goes as He leads, she will end up dwelling in the tents of the Father.

The Mission: Live today in the leading of the Spirit. Go only where He goes. Move as He moves. Let your every step be guided by His.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

Jonathan Cahn, The Book of Mysteries

Members of Church Expected to Know Prophecy and it's Fulfillment

And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you. (D&C 88:77-80)